Qatar Airways begins nonstop service to Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA -- This morning the CEO of Qatar Airways will arrive at Philadelphia International Airport to announce the launch of his airline’s nonstop service to the City of Brotherly Love as the fifth American city in its destination lineup.

In welcoming Akbar Al Baker and his airlines, Mark Gale, the airport’s CEO, said adding Doha as the facility’s 39th direct international location will augment the services already provided to the 30.5 million passengers, of whom 4.3 million travel to other countries, from the 30 airlines and their 600 daily departures.

“We are very proud to have an international carrier of Qatar’s acclaim serving our airport,” Gale said. “Qatar’s vast network in the Middle East, Africa and Asia is the perfect complement to the extensive network of flights and destinations throughout North and South America provided by our hub carrier, the new American Airlines. We look forward to a long relationship with Qatar Airways.”

Qatar Airways offers service to more than 130 locations around the globe and was voted Airline of the Year in 2011 and in 2012 by the Skytrax industry audit. It is the first international carrier to enter the Philadelphia market in five years. Qatar officials decided to add Philadelphia due to the strong demand from the East Coast, to offer residents more international travel options and to capitalize on the expanded offerings made available through the American Airlines network.

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The Philadelphia schedule will offer travelers the first morning flight out of the United States to Qatar, allowing for early connections from Doha to Asia and Africa, including links to Bangkok, Thailand; Hong Kong, China; Nairobi, Kenya; as well as Vietnam; Maldives, Tanzania and India.